Pneumatic press-feeding means.



J. DUVALL.

PNEUMATIC PRESS FEEDING MEANS.

APPLICATION FILED MAB. '7, 1912.

Patented 0011.21 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

INVENTOR ATTORNEV COLUMBIA PLANUGRM'II 60.. WASHINGTON, n. c.

J. DUVALL.

PNEUMATIC PRESS FEEDING MEANS.

APPLICATION FILED MAB. 7, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

NVENTOR %TTORNEV Patented 0013.21, 1913.

Witt

J. DUVALL.

PNEUMATIC PRESS FEEDING MEANS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 7, 1912. 76,491. Patented 00t.21,1913.

1} SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNE INVENTOR MLQTM Byymwwmg W ATTORNEY UMTEU %TATE% PATENT @FFllQE.

JAMES DUVALL, OF CAMAS, WASHINGTON.

PNEUMATIC PRESS-FEEDING MEANS.

LWZGAEPL Application filed March 7, 1912.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMns DUVALL, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Camas, county of Clarke, State of Washington, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Pneumatic Press- Feeding Means, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to automatic printing presses, especially those used for printing paper bags, provided with a pneumatic compression cylinder and automatic intermittent feeding mechanism, whereby the outermost sheet of a stack of material is periodically moved toward the printing mechanism.

The object of my invention is the provid ing of more eflicient automatic means for carrying the outermost of the material stacked on the feeding apron to the compression cylinder, also properly, relatively timing the cooperating mechanism.

In illustrating my invention 1 have shown a common type of printing mechanism used for printing paper bags, comprising a type cylinder and a pneumatic compression cylinder in which a partial vacuum is caused by convenient suction means.

The specific beneficial results obtained by me, the details of the devices used by me for this purpose, and the mode of operation, will be hereinafter fully described.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bag printing press of the type referred to embodying my invention; this view also shows the valve controlling the connection between the compression cylinder and the suction element (the latter not being shown) also the automatic means actuating said valve; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of said press looking in the direction pointed by the arrow in Fig. 1, the endless feeding apron being shown in section and the cut-off valve controlling the connection between said compression cylinder and the suction element being omitted; Fig. 3 shows a larger-scale view of the compression cylinder looking in the direction pointed by the arrow in Fig. 1, illustrating the provision of auxiliary means, viz. nippers, for holding the material to be printed on the compression cylinder; the upper half of this figure is drawn in section so as to show the arrangement of the parts, the bearings for the compression cylinder, and the connection between the latter and the suction element;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented (lot. 21, 1513.

Serial No. 682,302.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 8, looking in the direction pointed by the arrow; Fig. 5 is a perspective detail illustrating the construction and operation of the valve controlling the connection between the compression cylinder and the suction element; Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the action of and the means for actuating said valve, also the relative movement of a hollow hinged pendent suction arm provided for carrying the outermost of the sheet of stacked material to the compression cylinder; Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic perspective detail of said hollow arm and its operative connections; Figs. 8 and 9 are perspective details of a pawl and ratchet element and connections for intermittently operat ing the feeding apron; Figs. 10 to 12, inclusive, illustrate the action of said auxiliary nippers shown in Figs. 4 and 6, namely: Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view illustrating in broken lines the operation of the cam-like means for locking against rotation the shaft supporting the auxiliary nippers, and showing in full lines the adjustable plate carrying the cam pins with which said cams are brought into contact at proper intervals for throwing said auxiliary nippers into and out of their active position; Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic side elevation, on a larger scale, of said cam mechanism; Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic elevation of said cam mechanism; Fig. 13 is a fragmental section illustrating the construction of the springcontrolled stud pin for locking the cam in place after having been thrown into one position until forcibly thrown into another position by coming in contact with said cam pins provided on the plate shown in Fig. 10; Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a modification, as follows: here the relative positions of the compression cylinder and the type cylinder have been changed, and the hollow pendent arm provided for carrying the outermost sheet of stacked material to the compression cylinder is rigidly instead of hingedly supported; Fig. 15 diagrammatically illustrates another modification, here the compression cylinder and type cylinder are mounted in a common plane, and the material is arranged in a vertical stack, and the devices are correspond ingly arranged so as to pick off the uppermost of such stack and pull it toward the compression cylinder; and Fig. 16 is a diagrammatic illustration of a further modification in the arrangement of the cooperating parts of my invention, in this, the material to be printed is moved intermittently along a horizontal plane, the individual sheets being set on an end on a horizontally extending feeding apron, and the devices are arranged to operate without the aid of a hollow suction arm for carrying the outer most sheet to the compression cylinder.

The bag printing press shown is of the usual type, and has combined with it a suction compression cylinder at, arranged relatively to the type cylinder 1), provided with a plurality of suction orifices j. The details not entering into the novelty of my invention are not illustrated.

The bags to be printed are stacked on a horizontally arranged endless apron (Z, which feeds the material toward an oscillating hollow suction arm movably, (e, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6) or rigidly, (e, as shown in Fig. 1 1) connected to the exhaust pipe g, which is connected to suitable vacuum causing means not shown. If the suction arm be movable, as shown at e in Figs. 1, 2 and 6, such arm is suspended by a hinge joint, f, to the exhaust pipe g, and is oscillated by a rod h, actuated by a crank pin i, mounted on the axle end, Z, of the compression cylinder a, the devices operating as diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 7.

The endless apron cl is supported by rollers as 1" (supports for one end only being shown) journaled in posts 8 mounted on the frame 8. The apron cl is moved forward by the rotation of the roller r, which is accomplished by a pawl as u and ratchet wheel 25, the latter being mounted on the axle end 1" of the roller 1". As shown in Fig. 8, the pawl u consists of a plurality of members of graded sizes, as 14:, 15, 16 and 17, pivoted on the upper end of the rod 1;, the lower end of which is pivoted on a crank pin, 00, adjustably supported in a slotted plate y, afiixed on the end of type-cylinder axle Z). See Figs. 2 and 9. The upper end of the rod 41 at the pivotal point of said pawl members is connected by links w with said axle end 7', as shown in Figs. 1, 8 and 16. The upper end of the rod 0 is reciprocated by the movement of the crank pin w, as apparent. Thus the forward motion of the ratchet wheel t, and therewith the apron cl, may be adjusted relatively to the thickness of the bag, for by the adjustment of the crank pin a: relatively to the center of the axis 6 the degree of forward movement of the ratchet wheel t may be made any multiple of the pitch of its teeth. For example, when four pawl members are used, as shown in Fig. 8, and the bags to be printed are very thin, the crank pin 00 will be so adjusted that each pawl member will act in turn to rotate the ratchet wheel 25 onefourth of its pitch. i

The bags are held in alinement on the apron d by means of the adjustable side rails mounted on the frame 8 by some suitable support, as shown at 2 in Fig. 1. lVhen an oscillating suction arm, as e, is included in the construction of my device, the outermost bag of the stack, 0, is seized by such arm when the latter is positoned as illustrated in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 6; and the return of such suction arm to its posi tion in full lines in the same figures, brings the lower edge of such outermost bag opposite the suction holes j of the compression cylinder a; the operation of the devices being timed accordingly. A suction is caused through the compression cylinder, a, by any convenient means, and such suction holds the bag in place on the compression cylinder during the interval of the printing operation.

The sleeves 2 and 9 provide a connecting passageway between the cylinder, at, and the exhaust pipe 10, through the medium of the valve-seat 3. See Fig. 3. The pipe 10 is connected with the suction means.

The suction through the compression cylinder a is controlled by means of a cut-oil": valve 79, provided with a finger p and actuated by a cam'segment g, rigidly attached to a gear 7 which is mounted on one axleend of the compression cylinder at. The valve 17 is normally held in its closed position by a coil-spring 6, shown in Figs. 1 and 5, and once during each revolution of the compression cylinder, (4, the finger p of the valve 1) comes into contact with the cam segment Q, thus opening the valve and so holding it as long as said contact continues; and after the cam has passed from the finger 79 of the valve the spring 6 acts to instantly close the valve again. Nippers 7c are also provided in a box-like cavity in the compression cylinder, 0,, as shown. in Figs. 4: and 6, and operated by a cam element m, arranged as diagrammatically shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 12. The cam element, m, is actuated by pins 11, set at predetermined positions in an adjustable plate 0, hung on one axle-end of the compression cylinder a, sub stantially as shown in Figs. 3, 10 and 11. The cam element, m, is automatically locked against movement at certain intervals by a lockpin 8, constructed and arranged as illustrated in Figs. 11 and 13, these devices operating substantially as used at present in other press mechanisms.

Instead of using an oscillating suction arm one may be used arranged in fixed position, as shown at c in Fig. 1 1. In such case the feeding apron (Z must operate closer to the compression cylinder, and the mouth of the suction arm must be located close to the feeding apron (Z. The relative positions of the cylinders, a, Z), may be varied, as illustrated in Fig. 15. WVhen a suction arm is not to be used a plate 11 must be provided, as shown in Fig. 16. This plate is supported by a bracket 19 on the frame .9, and holds the outermost bag in such position that the suction through the holes of the compres sion cylinder will pull it into contact with the latter.

In order to conveniently arrange the device so as to cause the feeding apron to feed the bags as close to the compression cylinder as possible, longitudinally arranged strips 12 are provided, supported on the frame .9 by brackets 18, over the apron d, as shown in Fig. 16. These strips are spaced apart, and on the feeding apron are mounted transverse cleats, or other protruding surface, (not shown) for engaging with the bottom ends of the bags, between the strips 12, in so doing moving the bags forward. The details of construction entering into the last described device will suggest themselves to any practical mechanic by having reference to Fig. 16, and hence a further description thereof is unnecessary.

The arrangement of the devices as shown in Fig. 15 is apparent from the brief description of, and the inspection of, such figure; the parts corresponding with those specifically described bearing like reference characters. The shield 20 prevents the suction through the orifices of the compression cylinder from acting on the material 0 until the suction orifices have arrived at the point 21. Otherwise the top bag might be moved out of proper place before it is picked up.

The means providing a partial vacuum in the compression cylinder, a, and in the suction arms, 6 or 0, must be adapted to cause the suction to be greater in said cylinder than said arm, so that the former will pull the bag or sheet of material from the latter.

I claim:

1. The combination with a press comprising a vacuum compression cylinder and traveling means for carrying stacked material toward said cylinder, the delivery end of said carrying means being spaced from,

said cylinder, of feeding means comprising a suction element located above the space between said cylinder and said carrying means, a rockable pendent mouth-end suspended from such suction element between said cylinder and said carrying means, and means for moving said rockable mouth-end to and fro between the carrying means and said cylinder, said moving means timed with the action of the latter.

2. The combination with a press comprising a vacuum compression cylinder and traveling means for carrying stacked material toward said cylinder, the delivery end of said carrying means being spaced from said cylinder, of feeding means comprising a suction element located above the space between said cylinder and said carrying means, a rockable pendent mouth-end suspended from such suction element between said cylinder and said carrying means, said mouth-end formed with a bevel face turned toward the delivery end of said carrying means, and means for moving said rockable mouth-end to and fro between the carrying means and said cylinder, said moving means timed with the action of the latter.

3. In av press comprising a type-cylinder and a compression-cylinder, an endless apron for feeding the material to the latter, said apron supported at its ends by rotatable rollers, means for driving said apron consisting of aratchet-wheel mounted on the axis of one roller; a crank pin on one end of the type-cylinder, a rod pivoted at its lower end on said crank-pin; a pawl pivoted on the upper end of said rod, said pawl consisting of a plurality of graded members resting on said ratchet wheel; and means pivotally supporting the upper end of said rod and therewith the pawl members in operative relation to the ratchet wheel.

4-. In a press comprising a type-cylinder and a compression-cylinder, an endless apron for feeding the material to the latter, said apron supported at its ends by rotatable rollers, means for driving said apron consisting of a ratchet-wheel mounted on the axis of one roller; an adjustable crank pin on one end of the type-cylinder, a rod pivoted at its lower end on said crank-pin; a pawl pivoted on the upper end of said rod, said pawl consisting of a plurality of graded members resting on said ratchet wheel; and means pivotally supporting the upper end of said rod and therewith the pawl members in operative relation to the ratchet wheel.

5. In press feeding means of the character described, a rotating hollow compression cylinder provided with circumferential suction aperture or apertures, also provided with an exhaust orifice and means for connecting the latter with a suction element; a spring actuated gate controlling said exhaust orifice, said gate formed with a projecting finger, and a cam ahixed to the compression cylinder, adapted to engage with the finger of said gate and open the latter during each revolution of the compression cylinder.

6. In press feeding means of the charac ter described, a rotating hollow compression cylinder provided with circumferential suction aperture or apertures, also provided with an axial exhaust orifice and means for connecting the latter with a suction element; a spring actuated gate controlling said axial exhaust orifice; and said gate formed with a projecting finger, a cam affixed to the compression cylinder, adapted the finger of said gate and open the latter during each revolution of the compression cylinder; a hinged hollow arm adapted to be connected to said suction element, said arm movable between the material stacked on said intermittent feeding mechanism and said compression cylinder and operating to carry the outermost sheet of the stack to the latter; and means operating said hollow arm in synchronism with the printing operation.

JAMES DUVALL. Witnesses:

CECIL LONG, WVM. C. SOHMITT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

